Patent application title: MODULAR ELECTRICAL GRID INTERFACE DEVICE

Abstract:

A smart grid gateway which includes a onboard computer programmed to
provide load measurement and control of at least one local resource or
asset. At least one metrology module is configured to provide metering of
the at least one local resource or asset. At least one LAN module is
configured to communicate with the at least one local resource or asset.
At least one WAN module is configured to communicate with a network
operations center.

Claims:

1. A smart grid gateway comprising:an onboard computer configured to
provide measurement or control of at least one local resource or asset;at
least one metrology module operatively connected to the onboard computer,
wherein the at least one metrology module is configured to provide
metering of the at least one local resource or asset at least one LAN
module operatively connected to the onboard computer, wherein the at
least one LAN module is configured to communicate with the at least one
local resource or asset;at least one WAN module operatively connected to
the onboard computer, wherein the WAN module is configured to communicate
with a network operations center.

2. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the components of the gateway
are housed in a standard chassis configured to support plug and play
components.

3. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the standard chassis provides
a plurality of WAN module interfaces, a plurality of LAN module
interfaces, and a plurality of metrology module interfaces.

4. The at least one WAN module, the at least one LAN module, and the at
least one metrology module utilize a standard interface to interoperate
with the onboard computer.

5. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the onboard computer is
configured to provide measurement and control of at least one local
resource or asset;.

6. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 additionally comprising a local
service port configured to permit service personnel to run diagnostics,
data recovery, and local software updates on the gateway.

7. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the smart grid gateway is
configured to enable service personnel to run diagnostics, data recovery,
and local software updates on the gateway via a LAN connection provided
by the at least one LAN module.

8. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the smart grid gateway is
configured to enable service personnel to run diagnostics, data recovery,
and local software updates on the gateway via a WAN connection provided
by the at least one WAN module

9. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the at least one metrology
module is a replaceable component.

10. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the at least one LAN module
is a replaceable component.

11. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein the at least one WAN module
is a replaceable component.

22. The smart grid gateway of claim 1 wherein onboard computer is
additionally configured to support network asset instrumentation within
context of a smart grid.

23. A smart grid management system comprising:a plurality of intelligent
network asset control systems connected to a network, each controlling at
least one asset on a power grid;a plurality of intelligent commercial
building control systems connected to the network, each controlling at
least one commercial building device connected to the power grid;a
plurality of intelligent residential control systems, each controlling at
least one residential device connected to the power grid;at least one
utility operator console connected to the network, wherein the at least
one utility operator console is configured to control the plurality of
intelligent network asset control systems, the plurality of intelligent
commercial building control systems, and the plurality of intelligent
residential control systems, wherein a console operator is enabled to
manage demand for power on the power grid.

24. The smart grid management system of claim 23 wherein at least some of
the plurality of intelligent commercial building control systems, and at
least some of the plurality of intelligent residential control systems
transmit power consumption data to the at least one utility operator
console, wherein the at least one utility operator console is further
configured to display power consumption data to the console operator.

Description:

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/976,495 filed on Oct. 1, 2007, which is incorporated
by reference in its entirety herein. The disclosure of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/210,761 filed on Sep. 15, 2008 is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002]This application includes material which is subject to copyright
protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003]The present invention relates in general to the field of electric
power distribution, and in particular to methods and systems for electric
power management.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004]The Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system has been proposed
for measuring energy usage using advanced devices such as water meters,
electric meters and gas meters, through various communication media on
request or on a pre-defined schedule. However, instrumentation at the
billing level is only a small part of a true smart grid solution. Sub
metering is required to provide actionable information. Direct load
control is required to meet peak management goals. Integration of
distributed resources is required to optimize economic and environmental
costs.

[0005]Furthermore, current AMI-based solutions for providing a smart grid
are proprietary to vendor platforms. There is no flexibility for
integrating best of breed technologies and there are few standards for
defining interoperability. There is difficulty in deploying a mixed
network of assets optimized for different situations. Communications
media are proprietized to the meter, thereby preventing future proofing.

[0006]Current AMI-based solutions are also expensive and hard to justify
across all rate-payer segments. A "one size fits all" approach does not
work because of poor price equanimity. Current AMI-based solutions do not
adequately define peak load growth curtailment that benefits all rate
payers.

[0008]In one embodiment, the invention is a smart grid gateway which
includes a onboard computer programmed to provide load measurement and
control of at least one local resource or asset. At least one metrology
module is configured to provide metering of the at least one local
resource or asset. At least one LAN module is configured to communicate
with the at least one local resource or asset. At least one WAN module is
configured to communicate with a network operations center.

[0009]In another embodiment, the invention provides a smart grid
management system that includes intelligent network asset control systems
connected to a network, each controlling at least one asset on a power
grid. A plurality of intelligent commercial building control systems are
connected to the network, each controlling at least one commercial
building device connected to the power grid. A plurality of intelligent
residential control systems are provided, each controlling at least one
residential device connected to the power grid. At least one utility
operator console is connected to the network. The utility operator
console is configured to control all of the intelligent control systems
so as to enable a console operator to manage the supply of and demand for
power on the power grid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following more particular description
of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various
views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating principles of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the basic elements of a smart
grid that provides advanced power management.

[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates one example of how a load duration curve can be
reshaped by power consumption and storage management.

[0013]FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a graph showing how a
conventional power grid can be migrated to a smart grid.

[0014]FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of an open standards platform for
managing resources on a power grid or at consumer locations.

[0015]FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of systems and interfaces for
control and operation of a smart grid.

[0016]FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a utility control console 600
which provides utilities with direct control over an intelligent network
of distributed energy resources.

[0018]FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a power management appliance
800 that provides an intelligent smart grid gateway.

[0019]FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a network 900 of intelligent
control systems for providing smart grid management.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020]For the purposes of this disclosure, a computer readable medium
stores computer data in machine readable form. By way of example, and not
limitation, a computer readable medium can comprise computer storage
media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile
and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any
method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer
storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM,
flash memory or other solid-state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or
other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk
storage or other mass storage devices, or any other medium which can be
used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the
computer.

[0021]For the purposes of this disclosure a module is a software,
hardware, or firmware (or combinations thereof) system, process or
functionality, or component thereof, that performs or facilitates the
processes, features, and/or functions described herein (with or without
human interaction or augmentation). A module can include sub-modules.
Software components of a module may be stored on a computer readable
medium. Modules may be integral to one or more servers, or be loaded and
executed by one or more servers. One or more modules may grouped into an
engine or an application.

[0022]The invention provides a system for providing a smart electrical
power distribution grid by pushing intelligence into the grid. In one
embodiment, real time information can be provided to the point of
consumption and distributed generation. In one embodiment, the system
allows for autonomous reactions to network events to optimize reliability
and economics.

[0023]The system may be used to reduce peak load by optimizing the
economics of power generation and improving reliability by integrating
distributed assets and resources, and providing demand reduction via
direct load control of commercial and residential systems. The system can
further provide energy storage at the point of consumption or within the
electric grid. The system can further provide distributed generation via
sources such as solar PV, micro-wind, standby generators, and Plug-In
Electric Vehicles (PEVs.)

[0024]In one embodiment, the system further provides for integration of an
economic analysis into distributed resource management. Such analysis
includes, e.g., comparison of the cost of incremental generation to
demand reduction, optimization of the arbitrage value of energy storage,
and optimization of the generation portfolio to include distributed
assets.

[0025]In one embodiment, the system further provides customers value-added
products and services from the utility and its business partners. For
example, online services can be provided to show detailed energy
consumption. The system can be used to sell customers backup power as a
service. The system can be used to show customers how to reduce
consumption in concert with utility benefits. The system can provide the
capability to sell/lease customers distributed generation systems like
solar PV.

[0026]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the basic elements of a smart
grid 100 that provides advanced power management. Power consumers, such
as businesses and homeowners have one or more energy management
appliances 110. The energy management appliances 110 can provide load
measurement and control 112 services, integration, management and control
of energy storage units 114 such as batteries, integration, management
and control of renewable sources 116 such a solar power and wind power
devices, 116, integration with plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) 118 and
integration with other distributed technologies 119. The energy
management appliance 110 can communicate with one or more AMI (Advanced
Metering Infrastructure) meters 120.

[0027]The energy management appliance 110 can further communicate, over an
external network such as the Internet 140, with an electric utility
operations and control center 150, and one or more customer portals 170.
The electric utility operations and control center 150 hosts at least one
control console displaying a utility portal 160 that can display data
collected from energy management appliances 110 and other devices on the
power grid. The utility portal 160 can further control devices, such as
energy management appliances 110 on the grid by causing commands to be
issued to the devices over the Internet 140. Individual power consumers
can control devices such as energy management appliances 110 located at
the consumer's home or business using a customer portal 170.

[0028]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment 200 of how a load duration curve
can be reshaped by power consumption and storage management. The vertical
axis of the graph 220 represents hourly MW load on a power grid. The
horizontal axis 240 represents the number of hours per year any give
hourly MW load is placed on the grid. One embodiment of a load duration
curve 260 shows wide variations in demand, from heavy demand on the far
left to light demand on the far right. Heavy demand periods are of
concern to an entity managing a power grid, since at these times the
power grid is at greatest risk of partial or total failure. Low demand
periods are also of interest, since at these times, power consumption
that can be scheduled for low consumption periods need not place demand
on the power grid at peak load times.

[0029]An entity managing a power grid would, in many cases, like to
flatten the load duration curve, ideally maintaining uniform demand on
grid at all times, but more practically, lowering peak demand in high
demand periods and using low demand periods for uses that can be flexibly
scheduled. As shown in FIG. 2, one method a utility or other entity
managing a power grid can use a smart power grid to flatten the load
duration curve is by (1) reducing customer loads at peak demand times
through utility controlled circuit level management at individual
consumer locations. For example, a utility could reduce power supplied to
pool pumps or air conditioning units.

[0030]The load duration curve can be further flattened using a smart power
grid by (2) discharging stored energy during peak load times. Such stored
energy can comprise, for example, batteries and capacitor banks. Such
stored energy resources are clean, reliable, efficient and can be
deployed in targeted locations (i.e. as close as possible to anticipated
demand.) A smart grid can further provide (3) value added services to
reduce demand on the power grid such as online energy management and
integration of renewable energy sources, and (4.) optimal use of
generation assets, and scheduling charging of energy storage devices and
PEVs at times of minimum demand.

[0031]FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a graph showing how a
conventional power grid can be migrated to a smart grid. The vertical
axis of the graph 310 represents value, which could be represent grid
stability, optimum use of grid assets or decreased overall cost of power.
The horizontal axis 320 represents investment over time. The migration
process begins by installing an enabling infrastructure 330, which
includes installing energy management appliances at consumer locations,
as well as installing or upgrading meters and other devices to be
compliant with AMI standards.

[0032]The next step in the migration path is to begin utilizing the
enabling infrastructure to implement advanced demand management 340, for
example, centralized control of individual consumer circuits and
appliances based on demand on the power grid. In one embodiment, advanced
demand management 340 includes advanced time of use rates. Distributed
energy storage units under centralized control 350 can be installed to
provide energy dispatch capabilities and real-time pricing can be
initiated. Distributed renewable power generation units, such as, for
example, solar panels, under centralized control 350 can be integrated to
provide power generation capabilities and source specific pricing can be
initiated. Management of charging plug-in hybrid electric vehicles 370
can additionally be provided.

[0033]Given that devices relating to management of power grids, as well as
consumer devices that measure, control, store or consume power may be
manufactured by many different manufacturers, it is important for such
devices to support open standards for ready interoperability. FIG. 4
illustrates one embodiment of an open standards platform for managing
resources on a power grid or at consumer locations 400. In one embodiment
of an energy management appliance 410, the appliance supports a variety
of open standards interfaces 414 for communicating with third party
devices 430, including ZigBee (communication protocols for small,
low-power digital radios), Z-Wave (communications protocol for wireless
products, especially consumer appliances), wireline (i.e. Plain Old
Telephone Service (POTS)) and PLC (protocol for communicating over power
lines.)

[0034]In one embodiment of an energy management appliance 410, the
appliance further supports a variety interfaces 412 for communicating
with meters 420 such as AMI, wireline as well as proprietary meter
protocols, if needed. The energy management appliance 410 furthers
support a variety of networking protocols 416 for communicating with
various entities over public or private network 440, for example, a
utility operations and control center, 450, a utility operations center
460 and customer portals 470. Networking protocols 416 supported by the
energy management appliance 410 can include DSL/Broadband, WiMAX
(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), BPL (Broadband over
Power Lines, i.e. PLC for Internet access), dial-up, and RF
communications using unlicensed spectrum.

[0035]FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of systems and interfaces for
control and operation of a smart grid 500. In the illustrated embodiment,
the smart grid includes a plurality of energy management appliances 510
and meters 520 at various consumer locations. The energy management
appliances 510 and meters 520 are connected over an external network such
as the Internet 540 to a utility control center 550, a utility operations
center 560, and to a plurality of customer portals 570. The utility
control center 550 hosts an array of systems for overall management of
the utility's business. Such systems can include CRM/CIS (Customer
Relationship Management systems), OMS (Outage Management Systems), GIS
(Geographic Information Systems), MDM (Meter Data Management systems),
SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition systems), ERP (Enterprise
Resource Planning systems), Energy Trading systems, and Analytics
systems.

[0036]The utility operations center 560 provides configuration management
of the power grid, manifest management, power grid health & performance
metering, customer support, and technical and field support. The customer
portals 570 provide interfaces that allow consumers to monitor and
control power consumption at consumer locations. The portals can include
utility integrated applications, utility branded online services, and
customer utility content.

[0037]FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a utility control console 600
which provides utilities with direct control over an intelligent network
of distributed energy resources. The console 600 can be used by the
utility, inter alia, at the utility's control center, the utility's
operation center, or both. One embodiment of such a control console is
detailed in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/878,072 entitled "Utility
Console for Controlling Aggregated Energy Resources" filed Jan. 3, 2007,
which is incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the control
console provides on-demand or scheduled peak event management, the
ability to predict available capacity of stored energy, load control and
distributed generation. The console can provide information before,
during and after a peak management event, and can be integrated with
utility operations environment.

[0038]In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the console provides a
display that can select and manage a portion of a grid associated with a
specific substation 610. The console provides a display that shows total
stored energy 620, as well as immediately dispatchable power 630. The
console further displays current and predicted power consumption for
power consumption classes including water heaters 640, pool pumps 650,
HVAC 660. The console further displays total current and predicted total
power consumption 670. The console further provides an event creation bar
670 that allows the utility to create events (immediate executed or
scheduled in the future) to manage the power grid, including immediate or
scheduled reductions in power consumption within a consumption class, as
well as immediate or scheduled dispatch of stored power to the grid.

[0039]FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a web-based consumer portal 700
that provides online energy management services. Such portal is described
in detail in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/971,938
entitled User Interface For Demand Side Energy Management filed Sep. 13,
2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the
portal Provides detailed consumption and conservation data to consumers,
and provides a personal energy profile that can be used to automatically
optimize energy consumption. The portal can also be used as the
consumer's interface to online services that provide information such as
energy savings data, detailed production and consumption data, utility
rate schedules, and environmental benefits.

[0040]In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the portal provides notices
and announcements 710, current weather conditions 720, and a set of tabs
730 for monitoring, energy settings, and product profiles. The monitoring
tab is displayed, and provides an available backup power meter 740, a
total consumption breakdown pie chart 750, a total savings pie chart for
peak and off peak consumption 760, and environmental information 770
including generated energy.

[0041]FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a power management appliance
800 that provides an intelligent smart grid gateway. The gateway provide
a "future-proof" entry point into a smart grid through new "behind the
meter" applications, the ability to adapt to changes in public and
private carrier networks, and the utilization of differentiated
amortization schedules. The gateway further provides for vendor
independence by using an open platform to eliminate vendor proprietary
systems. The invention can utilize "plug and play" best-of-breed
components to provide standards-based interoperability, thereby driving
down cost and driving up quality.

[0042]In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the smart grid gateway 800
comprises a programmable onboard computer and memory 810, at least one
metrology module 820, at least one WAN module 830, at least one LAN
module 840, and a local services port 850, all housed in a standard
chassis 860. The onboard computer 810 is programmed with computer
software to control local resources and provides load measurement and
control, energy storage management, management of distributed generation
assets, and management of network assets and resources. The at least one
metrology module 820 is configured to provide a metrology stack and
support for basic metering, revenue computation, and metering for network
assets and resources such as energy storage devices, transformers, and
power lines.

[0043]The at least one WAN module 830, the at least one LAN module 840,
and the at least one metrology module 820 utilize a standard interface to
interoperate with the onboard computer 810. In one embodiment, the
standard chassis 860 contains multiple interfaces for WAN modules 830,
multiple interfaces for LAN modules, and multiple interfaces for
metrology modules.

[0044]The at least one WAN module 830 is configured to communicate with a
network operations center using standard WAN protocols such as BPL, GSM,
WiMAX, and unlicensed spectrum RF. The at least one LAN module 840 is
configured to communicate with local assets and resources using standard
protocols such as ZigBee, Z-Wave, PLC, HomeLink, Ethernet, or RS-485
Modbus. The local service port 850 permits service personnel to run
diagnostics, data recovery, and local software updates on the gateway
800. Alternatively, the smart grid gateway can be configured to permit
service personnel to run diagnostics, data recovery, and local software
updates on the gateway via a LAN connection provided by the LAN module
840 or via a WAN connection provided by the WAN module 850.

[0045]The standard chassis 860 is configured to support plug and play
components and other standard hardware interfaces. The gateway may
provide many applications in a single chassis, including residential
metering, commercial metering, sub metering, demand management,
distributed generation management, substation asset instrumentation with
or without autonomous control, and network asset instrumentation within
context of Smart Grid.

[0046]FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a network 900 of intelligent
control systems for providing smart grid management. Utility power assets
910 such as powerlines, transformers, capacitors and generators can be
managed an controlled by intelligent control systems. Intelligent
commercial building automation and control systems 920 can manage and
control building air conditioning, elevators, and generators. Intelligent
residential systems 930 can control residential air conditioners, energy
storage devices such as batteries, renewable energy sources such as solar
power or wind power, and the charging of PEVs. All of the intelligent
control systems 910, 920 and 930, along with legacy DSM (Demand Side
Management) systems 940 can be connected through the Internet to through
a smart grid platform 950 a utility control and operations center 960
allowing the utility to control network resources using a utility
operator console 970. Consumers are also able to control their own energy
resources and loads through consumer interfaces 980.

[0047]While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.